reflection then redirection

Since I'm currently serving in the Primary in our ward this gives me the opportunity to do sharing time every couple months.
I'll admit this was one of the things i was most terrified to do when i received my calling.  I have never been fan of public speaking, big group or small group it doesn't matter. I hated the idea of getting up in front of the entire primary and winging it. I'm the type that when I give a talk {or make a phone call} I write down absolutely every word that I'm going to say and under no circumstance do I change the plan.
HOWEVER
Through this calling I can almost say that I have conquered my fear of public speaking- at least in this situation. I have started looking forward to the months that I get to prepare a sharing time.
I know that I am learning WAY more then what I am ever teaching the kids, but that ok because I probably need to hear everything way more then they need to.
while preparing sharing time for next week I came across this quote:

I remember hearing this talk and thinking what a great message that was, but soon I forgot and I haven't thought of this particular talk since. I know that as I am able to try to keep in tune with the spirit I can receive these special messages that are just for me. 

It's hard for me to always feel grateful. When things aren't going exactly how I've planned or I feel frustrated or like I'm the only one who feel this way its too easy to focus on all the bad. 

I know there are always going to be things in my life that aren't going perfectly- but as I am able to take a step back I can recognize all the things that are right in my life.

Rope and I were married in the temple and can be together forever.

Even though we live far away from family we are so blessed to have some family living right in Saskatoon with us.

I have a job and can provide for our family. Looking back I can recognize so many ways we have been blessed because I have this particular job.

Rope will graduate with a Degree from University this year.

We were able to house sit a beautiful home for the last 7 months. We were so fortunate that we were in a place in our lives that we could take this opportunity.

I have a body that works and can be active and I am learning to not take this simple fact for granted

I have a wonderful calling that gives me these opportunities for reflection and then redirection.

As I look at the bigger picture of our lives, and not focus on little things, I can more easily see that we are so blessed.

2015

New year new plans! In the past I haven't been a huge resolution setter {or keeper} so I'm trying something new this year!
Instead of making a list of things I'm going to do Rope and I decided to pick a theme for our year. Our theme is more of a general goal for how we want our year to go and how we are going to become better in the meantime.
The theme for 2015 comes from one of my favorite hymns, "More Holiness Give Me", it's the last two lines of the first verse.
More faith in my Saviour, more sense of His care, more joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

This year we are going to focus on the important stuff- becoming more kind and thoughtful, more prayerful, more aware of our blessings and most importantly more Christ-like.

Happy 2015!!

CHRISTmas

For some reasons this year has felt different as I have been preparing for Christmas. I've been doing all the same things I always have and we had the tree and decorations up by the first week in November, but still something has been missing. I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to figure out but in all the business of this time of year I have forgotten the most important part of Christmas- Christ.
Last night was when the change began. I finally watched the Christmas video that has been popping up on my newsfeed for days. It was exactly what I needed to see and showed me what exactly what I was missing. Then tonight I went to a relief society meeting and the whole thing was centred around Christ and especially remembering him this time of year. I got some great ideas of how I can make the rest of this Christmas season more about the actual reason for the season.
I am so grateful for the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. I'm grateful for the Christmas season and the opportunity it gives us to focus our lives around Christ and all he did for us. I love the trees and decorations and the excitement of finding the perfect gift for someone but even more than all of that I love my Savior. I love what he did for each one of us and I love that because of it we can live again with our families and be with them forever!
I hope to focus my life around Christ more this month and also throughout the coming year.

If you'd like to watch {or re-watch} the video that changed my Christmas you can find it here :)

October

October has become a very special month for us.
On the 8th Rope and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary. Rope planned the date and we dressed up and went to a fancy restaraunt for dinner. He knows I like to dress up nice with him sometimes so it was so thoughtful of him to pick a place he knew I would like to go to together. We have grown together so much this past year and I can't wait to see what the next year or 2 or 10 have in store for us.
This month we were also able to remember and celebrate the lives of Brynn and Grandma Dixie. Two wonderful women who are examples of strength and love to me everyday.
We had the wonderful opportunity to spend thanksgiving surrounded by family. I couldn't help but remember the events of last years thanksgiving  weekend and it gave me so much to be grateful for, especially for the knowledge that families are forever!
My aunt Christy put out a challenge to donate blood during the month of October in honor of Brynn, so on Monday I went and donated blood in Saskatoon. Brynn received many blood transfusions throughout her battle with cancer so it was nice to do something to give back. I'm sure she would love that through remembering her we were able to help someone else, she was always so happy to help in whatever way she could.
I wore Brynn's favorite color and thought of her the whole time, it brought me so much strength to  know what I was doing would make her proud. I'm so grateful for a healthy body that allows me to donate blood to give to those who need it.
It's been a wonderful month :)

Home sweet home... again

We moved again! This marks our fifth house in our almost 3 years of marriage... Yep were crazy like that!

There are a lot of great things {and some not so great things} about our new place!

We have tons of channels we didn't have before and a PVR! {this is probably good and bad :P}

We get to sleep in a king size mattress- it's like I have a bed to myself!

One of the levels has AC... I'm counting that as a plus even though we will only be living here for the winter.

There is a real fireplace, I'm actually looking forward to colder weather!

There is a garborator! I love those things!
The house is 100 years old so there is so much character- like gorgeous crown moulding!
There are a ton of stairs so even when I'm not working out I'm working out.. right??... haha
Rope's favorite parts are:
The "Man Cave" which is actually just the attic level that has been turned into the tv room, and it actually is pretty awesome!
And the fact that he can walk to school in 10 minutes! Which has also been great since the buses have been on strike since we moved here!

The not so great things..

The basement is super creepy! You don't even know how creepy- there is a weird little room and a coal shute. And the laundry is down there so I'm going to have to get brave one of these days!

The mattress is hard as a rock... I think I am actually bruised from it..

The dishwasher doesn't work :(

Buuuuuut mostly the house is great and we are loving it!  

And everyone is invited to come visit because it's big and we actually have a spare bedroom with a bed! But Hurry we are only here until April! :P

From Bushes to Berries

A few weeks ago we were outside working in our yard doing some mowing and watering. As we admired our own yard we noticed our neighbours weeds from their yard were starting to creep through the fence. I'd planted some sunflowers along this fence line and the weeds were starting to over take them and I was worried they were going to die. I picked the weeds but not before making some comments to Rope about our neglectful neighbours.
Now fast forward to this past Friday. We were back in our yard again and I was admiring my growing sunflowers when from between the fence posts I noticed raspberries poking through. We were thrilled  since we both love them! We went right over to our neighbours house to ask if we could pick some. When we walked up to the house the door was open and there was a man laying on the couch with a beer in his hand. I'll admit I was a little apprehensive as we approached the door but I pushed passed this and asked if we could pick a bowl. He seemed nice enough and agreed to us picking some berries.
We went around back and started picking. We'd been out there about 5 minutes when the man from inside came out. He apologized for not introducing himself better. He told us he was a mechanic and had a long week of work. He also told us he was living with his mother and 2 brothers. He was born and grew up in Pakistan and his family moved to Toronto when he was young. Later he moved to Europe met and married his wife who later passed away from a brain tumour. Before going inside he offered his mechanic services to us if we ever needed them. I felt embarrassed for the judgements I had passed before I even knew his name let alone his story!

Not only did we get a bowl of delicious raspberries that day but we met a wonderful man and neighbour. I also learned an important lesson, Something that can seem bad at first can actually turn into something beautiful. Those weeds creeping into our yard turned out to be a raspberry bush and an experience I will never forget. Things are not always as they appear!

happy

Today was a rainy summer day. I usually don't mind rainy days, but we've had quite a few lately and I would love a hot summer day even more.
I decided to bake something new to distract myself from the dreary weather outside. (Also we don't have AC so a cool day is the only time I will even think of turning on the oven in the summer ;) )
While searching Pinterest i came across a recipe that looked delicious! I'm a sucker for a crumble topping..
Is there anything better then Strawberry lemonade in the summer?? Now imagine that transformed into a scrumptious square.

If you feel as tempted as I did by it.. you can find the recipe here. You may also want to check out a few more of her recipes... they all look AMAZING! Also, the recipe was step by step and easy to understand which is always a bonus.

Here is my version of the Strawberry Lemonade Bar.. Now quick go make it and Enjoy!

Also what's a rainy day without a trip to the store..
You'll never guess where i picked up this adorable wrap headband. I may go back tomorrow for 5 more!
hint: 2 words, 1st word starts with d, 2nd word starts with s and everything happens to be a dollar there ;)